TRAINING A DERBY FAVORITE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4433, 4 June 1875, Page 3

TRAINING A DERBY FAVORITE.

(Prom the Saturday Journal .) The trainer examines the horse most carefully before he is sent out to take his exercise gallop, is on the spot to see him do his canter, attends him home again, examines him closely to note whether he is lame, and sees him put right in the stable. His corn is supplied from a bin that is kept under lock and key ; his feed of hay, his drinks of water, are all carefully looked to. As the momentous day arrives, and the horse is again and again backed by his owner and various friends to win them large sums of money, the trainer’s vigilance increases ; he appoints a steady man to sleep in the stable close to the horse in case the animal should be “ got at” and he disabled by agents of those who have laid heavy bets against his being returned the winner. A first-rate jockey has been engaged to i-ide the horse; by-and-by he arrives at the training ground, and on the Saturday evening before the Wednesday of the race the favorite is tried, to find whether he still retains his great form. He acquits himself as was expected, and owner, trainer, and jockey are jubilant in consequence. Next day he is taken in a van to the railway station; at night, having arrived, he is housed in safety at Epsom, attended by his trainer, jockey, and two or three stable men to keep watch and ward over him till the bell rings for his saddling on the Derby day. The trainer’s anxiety is not over yet; he fears the horse may have suffered from the journey ; his every movement is anxiously regarded ; he is fed with the same hay and oats that he has been accustomed to at home, supplies having been brought for the purpose ; before he is permitted to take a drink the water is examined and tested to see that it is pure. The animal is never left alone night or day ; some one must be always on the watch, so precious is a Derby favorite, so great is the money interest with which he is allied, not to mention the honor attendant on winning the race. At length all is over. Our yearling has won the great race, and all concerned are truly thankful ; not one of those most interested could have stood the anxiety a day longer, so great was the tension.